VietNamNet Bridge – Than lan trinh nu (Leiolepis ngovantri sp. nov. Grismer
Grismer), a newly discovered reptile species, is believed to be the material to
make a miracle drug good to gentlemen.
According to the scientists of the Binh Chau – Phuoc Buu nature reserve in Xuyen
Moc of Ba Ria – Vung Tau, the lizards were first discovered at the nature
reserve. This is a discovery of Professor Ngo Van Tri, therefore, it has another
name – than lan nu sinh Ngo Van Tri. The reptile individuals are smaller than
many other species of the same family with the length of 1.5 cm only.
When asked why the newly discovered lizards are called “than lan trinh nu”
(maiden lizards), Bui Dinh Son from the Binh Chau – Phuoc Buu sanctuary
explained that there is no male individual, and there are only female
individuals.
“Since only female individuals exist which still can reproduce, a kind of
asexual reproduction, people have given them the name “than lan trinh nu”,” Son
said.
The initial studies by the scientists at the sanctuary showed that than lan
trinh nu likes living in dry forests, or cajuput forests like the one in the
sanctuary and the coastal areas of Binh Thuan province. It is considered an
endemic species of Vietnam which has high value. The initial scientific studies
have also found out that the lizards have certain nutrition useful to human
health.
Local people affirmed that they heard from the previous generations that the
meat of lizards is very good to people’s health, which has been used as a
miracle drug. For the last many generations, salamanders have been soaked in
liquor to create a kind of liquid which is believed to be very good to
gentlemen.
While than lan trinh nu is a new discovery to scientists, it has been familiar
to local people for a long time, who think that it is just a kind of lizard.
However, after scientists talked about the high value of the lizards, they have
been rushing to hunt for the reptile individuals.
The meat of than lan trinh nu is described as sweet, delicious and tastes like
chicken. Therefore, it has another name “ga dat” which means “the earth fowl”
(the fowl that creeps on the face of the earth).
Than lan trinh nu has been attractive not only because they have high nutrition,
but also because of their beautiful colors and the mystery about their
reproduction.
Son from the sanctuary said that since the lizards do not eat insects, while
their main food is tree and herbs, the medicinal properties of the herbs can be
found in the lizards’ meat. Therefore, the meat could be seen as a kind of
nutritious food which can help improve people’s health.
The information about the precious lizard has prompted people to hunt for them.
People go to the forests, to the sanctuaries to look for lizards and sell to
restaurants.. A lot of people believe that if the lizards can be soaked in
liquor in a right way, this would create a liquid that helps strengthen the
virility of men. The local people have also been trying to make different dishes
from the lizard meat.
Son said that the lizards are very clean, because they only eat plants and dew.
Therefore, people just need to clean lizards without eliminating viscera and
then put into bottles with liquor.
Nguoi Dua Tin